By Nasratu Kargbo
Parliamentarians after hours of tension, heightened emotions, and loud undertones denoting disappointment in the well of parliament, withdrew the bill entitled the Parliament Act of 2023.
The bill according to its drafters seeks to address the welfare of the legislative arm of government.
Following a division among the law makers on the bill, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Segepoh Solomon Thomas moved a motion for a withdrawal on the 6th of April 2023.
Parliament became heated after MP from Constituency 115 Alpha Amadu Bah called on his colleagues not to enact the bill emphasizing the economic status of the country.
Addressing other MPs who spoke on the relevance of proper health facilities, he said MPs have died because of inadequate medical facilities, and that the life of every Sierra Leonean is as important as every MP, Minister, etc.
“While we say six MPs have died, over thousands of people have been dying because of medical facilities,” said Bah.
From Constituency 007 Quinton Salia Konneh stated that they have lost six of their colleagues as a result of the inadequate medical care for MPs.
He explained that despite being representatives for thousands of people and the stress they go through in their constituencies, they do not have access to a medical facility.
The MP compared them with members in the executive arm of government, who according to him have access to health care, emphasizing that even when they caught common flu, they are flown out of the country for better medical facilities.
He explained that most of those people who enjoy such facilities pass through parliament to be endorsed, whilst they do not have access to such privilege.
Konneh said they had long wanted to introduce the bill but were bashed by Sierra Leoneans, stating that it was due to misinformation. He explained that they are not asking for too much, noting that they just want to look after their well-being because they want to stay alive.
The MP stated that they are not asking for exorbitant salaries, in view of demands such as human development and developmental projects expected of them to carry out for their constituents, it will be fair for their salaries to be increased.
Constituency 020 MP Francis Amara Kaisamba said he thought the bill will not encounter challenges but get the necessary concurrence and passed into law. He explained that they should drop their party views and ensure the bill is actualized, explaining that some of their colleagues were sick and died not as a result of the party they belonged to but due to their health condition.
The MP stated that he did not expect questions such as why the bill has been introduced now, saying the focus should be on the content.
“This is about our emolument, I think we are entitled to them, Sierra Leoneans should understand,” said the MP, adding that he does not want to compare Sierra Leone to other countries but that everyone knows they are not paid much.
He stated that the bill is holistically done for the legislative arm of government.
Representing 132 Ibrahim Tawa Conteh stated that the idea of preparing and introducing the bill was from both sides of the aisle, highlighting the names of some MPs from the Opposition.
Conteh said he supports the bill because it seeks to address the disparity between parliament and the other organs such as the Judiciary and the Executive.
He said they are Sierra Leoneans and cannot be cowards, stating that other Sierra Leoneans are enjoying certain benefits that they don’t.
The MP revealed that they are paid twenty-one million Leones, which he noted is not enough to take care of their families and other matters in their communities.
MP representing constituency 114 Unpha Sorie Koroma questioned the timeliness of the bill, asking whether the time is right.
He said the Act is mostly focused on running the affairs of the institution than the welfare and salaries of MPs. Koroma noted that he agrees that the institution has to continue running, but asked whether it is prudent to enact such a bill now.
The Speaker of Parliament Chernor Abass Bundu said “This is an epitome of hypocrisy’’
He said many MPs have been in his chamber to discuss their welfare and asked that the bill be introduced to parliament, and the Speaker in an angry stern voice expressed surprise at the sudden change.
Bundu said the bill will not apply to the current MPs but those to come in the next parliament.
Some proposals made in the bill included that the salary of the Speaker of Parliament be the same as the Vice President, whilst the Deputy Speaker’s salary should be the same as that of the Chief Justice, and that the salaries of MPs should be the same as that of the ministers of government.
It also proposes that they get a medical allowance, fuel allowance, sitting fee, and facilitation allowance amongst other things.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (12/04/23)
